<div><font size="4" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Dear Friends and Family,</font></div>
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<div><font size="4" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">This coming week, on Friday, January 1st will be the first anniversary of Mark and I becoming a legally married couple in the state of Texas. Some of you may want to help us celebrate this with cards or small gifts. We intend to be home most of the day on the 1st and then go out for a celebratory supper at either Saltgrass Steak house or Texas Land and Cattle at the Willowbrook mall area. More details to follow soon as to which one and what time, should you wish to join us. Let us know you plan on eating with us so we know how many to ask for reservations. </font></div>
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<div><font size="4" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">As you may know, the 1st anniversary is the Paper anniversary according to tradition. The modern gift is one of clocks. (According to About.com </font><a href="http://marriage.about.com/cs/anniversaries/a/wedannivideas.htm"><font size="4" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">http://marriage.about.com/cs/anniversaries/a/wedannivideas.htm</font></a><font size="4" face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> "1st through 100th wedding anniversaries gifts and ideas" Pretty interesting read.) But no clocks please, we have plenty of those. <br clear="all">
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<div><font size="4"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Many of you have expessed an interest in what sort of gifts would be appreciated. While I am not one to pooh-pooh tradition, if you are scratching your head about what sort of paper gifts would be welcome as I am, I am in need of some new pot holders for the kitchen. I really would like the type that fits over your whole hand and gives you a thumb to grasp with. Color is not an issue. I like just about all colors. I have heard there are these really good silicon grasping gloves out there. But I don't know if they are expensive. </font></font></div>
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<div><font size="4"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I also find that I could use some spatulas and could use a couple more big stirring spoons. I really like the bamboo stirring spoons. Almost all of my cookwear has some sort of coating on it that metal will scratch so plastic, wood, bamboo, nylon or rubber is the way to go.</font></font></div>
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<div><font size="4">A third possible gift idea is to give us the gift of your time. (Would that work into the modern gift of clocks???) I can always use help around the house with my legs being so bad so a gift of "I will come up and clean the TV room all you have do is sit and direct me" would be a wonderful gift. Likewise a gift of "I would love to help paint" or "I will come do some yard work" would be oh, so appreciated. </font></div>
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<div><font size="4">We sincerely hope that a few of you will be able join us as we celebrate this milestone in our relationship. We couldn't have made it without you. </font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"></font></div>
<div><br><font size="4">Love</font></div>
<div><font size="4">Darlene & Mark</font></div>
<div><font size="4">Annes & Thorgard</font></div>